Three-part last



Sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,353

A.BATE5 THREE-PART LAS '1 Filed April 15. 1921 Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR BATES, 0F LEICESTER,

coRPoRATIoN, or ZPA'IEBSON,

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THREE-TART LAST.

Application filed April 15, 1921. .Serial No. 461,462.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR BATES, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Three-Part Lasts,tof which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to three-part lasts, so-called, and is disclosed in connection with a collapsible last having a heel part, atoe part, and a wedge part cooperating with them to hold the last in extended position. The illustrative last disclosed is adapted especially for use in a shoemaking process wherein the heel part of the last is removed from operative position to permit heeling the shoe on a jack without disturbance of the forepart, and is then returned to position; for the subsequent shoemaking operations. A last upon which no heeling is done is exempt from several constructional requirements to which an ordinary last is subject and is consequently cheaper and lighter.

The three-part last has never been seriously considered for this type of shoemaking for the reasons, among others, that the proposed fo-rms have not permitted sufficient displacement of the heel part to secure the requisite convenience in heeling, or have cut so deeply into the instep portion in forming the wedge as to leave the toe part or forepart too short to effect the proper contact and gripping action between this part of the last and the shoe when the heel part is displaced.

To the end of obviating these and other difliculties the present invention provides a last with a broadly obtuse angled wedge so that the heel part can rot-ate forward through an angle of more than 90', thus removing it entirely from the space which it is desired to occupy with the heeling instrumentality.

Another feature of the invention consists in the characteristics of the cut. In the illustrated last, the cut begins near the top of the instep ridge, so that the forepart is amplc to hold its place in and to support the shoe when the heel part is removed, extends down to the apex of the wedge, and then extends backward to a point below the upper rear heel corner. This secures the broadly obtuse angle mentioned, and also effects a firmer support of the last in the shoe than if the rear out came up through the top of the last, as will be explained.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the wedge, is connected with the heel block by a pivoted link, thereby securing great freedom of movement of the wedge when the last is unlocked for removal from the shoe.

These and other features of the invention comprising certain combinations and arrangements of parts will be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying 1 drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the last in operative position, and.

Fig. 2 shows the last in collapsed position.

The last is divided into a forepart 10, a heel part 11 and a wedge 12 by three cuts. The cut 13 is substantially vertical and ex tends from about the heel breast portion upwardly for a short distance, sufficient to provide firm abutting contact between the forepart and the heel part. The cut 14 extends from the upper end of the cut 13 forward and upward to a point near the top of the instep ridge. The out 15 extends from the upper end of the cut 13 upward and backward to a point perhaps one-half inch below the upper rear heel corner. The forepart and heel part are pivotally connected, as by a link 17 and the heel part and wedge are likewise pivotally connected, as by the .link 18. A locking means is provided for holding the last in operative position, and is here illustrated as "a spring pressed plunger 19, retractible by a cord 20, mounted in the wedge 12 and cooperating with a suitable hole 21 in the forepart 10.

The widely obtuse angle between the cuts 1 1, 15 permits the heel part to be thrown around through an angle considerably greater than 90, so that ample clearance for the heeling instrumentality is provided. Fig. 2 illustrates an intermediate position of the heel part; it can be thrown considerably farther than there shown. The bringing out of the out 15 below the upper heel corner produces a surface 21 on the wedge which contacts with the shoe and tends to prevent accidental displacement of the wedge and consequent collapse. The axis 22 of the link 18 preferably passes below the point of application of the bolt 19 so that the lasting tension in the shoe will not tend to squeeze out the wedge 12, which is thus held in position by a toggle-action.

The last is collapsed by a pull on the cord 20, which retracts the bolt 19 and then lifts out the Wedge and pulls the heel part after it, as shown in Fig. 2. This leaves the ample forepart closely gripped around its waist, and experience has shown that this is suiticient to hold it in position during the heeling. The parts can then he replaced'by a reverse movement when the heeling is finished. The entire last is withdrawn, when desired, in the same manner.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is 1. A three-part last comprising a forepa'rt, a heel part, a link pivoted both to the heel part and the forepart, and a wedge having an operative angle of substantially over 90?.

2. A three-part last comprising a forepa'rt,

a heel part, and a wedge having an operative angle of substantially over 90, and a link pivoted to the wedge and also pivoted to one of said first-mentioned parts.

3. Athre'e-part last com-prising a; forep'crt, a heel part and a wedge severed therefrom by a cut extending from a point below the upper rear heel corner to the forward end of the cone. I

l. A three-part last comprising a forepart,

a heel part pivoted thereto, a wedge, a link 85 pivotally connected to the wedge and to the heel part, and locking means between the wedge and the forepart. p p

5. A three-partlast comprising a'forepaffi, a heel part, and a'wedg'e pivomny connect d two by two in the order named,a1rd lqcldirg means between the wedge and the impart,- the pivotal c'onnection ofthewedge and the locking means being constructed and arranged to cooperate to hold the wedge in 5 operative position by toggle action.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to' this specification.

BATE-S. 

